Adjustable piston for internal combustion engines



All@ 15, 1938- J. HLAsNEY,.JR 2,127,361

ADJUSTABLE PISTON FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES INVENTOR John, Hiasrzg/,Jz

Aug. 16, 1938. J. HLASNEY. JR 2,127,361

ADJUSTABLE PISTON FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 7, 19257 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l\\\\"lllllll/ `\\\\'f/ INVENTOR Jo/zrz H/dsne Stilln fill Patented/tug. 16, 193s ADJUSTABLE PISTON FOR INTERNAL CGM- BUSTION ENGINES John Hlasney, Jr., New York, N. la'.

Application August 7, 1937, Serial No. 157,826

. 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an adjustable piston for internal combustion engines and the like.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved piston which may be used in connection with a cylinder to vary the compression of the cylinder and thus the horsepower characteristic thereof, by increasing or decreasing the capacity of the combustion chamber.

The invention is characterized by an adjustable piston consisting of piston sections provided `with a means for urging them together, and still another means acting against one of the piston sections to oppose the first-mentioned means and so to separate the piston sections.

Still further the invention proposes the use of resilient elements mounted upon studs and acting between the ends of the said studs and portions of the piston sections for normally urging the sections together.

Still further the invention provides for a stem which is slidably mounted in a connecting rod for the piston and which is adapted to engage one of the piston sections and to be forced forward by a cam element which is mounted upon the crank rod or driving rod of the device.

Still further the invention proposes an expansion or resilient element which is to be mounted upon a stud and to act between the end of said stud and a portion of one of the piston sections for normally urging the sections together.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a stem which is slidably mounted on a connecting rod for the piston and which is adapted to er age one of the piston sections and to be i `forward by a cam element which is mounted upon the crank rod or driving'rod of the device.

Still further the invention provides for a new type of crank rod to be used in conjunction with the device. This rod too consists of a crank having spaced radial arms with a rung rotatively Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a` portion of the device shown in Figi.

Fig. 4 ls a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the parts thereof in a different position.

Fig. 5 is another sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the parts in still another position.

The adjustable piston for internal combustion engines and the like, according to this invention, comprises a piston III which is slidably mounted in a cylinder with integral head II. The piston I0 includes a top section Ita and a bottom section Ib having resilient means for normally urging them together. A crankshaft I2 is arranged in the crankcase of the cylinders I I, and has a pair of spaced radial arms It xedly attached to the crankshaft trunnion It. A rung I4 ls rotatively mounted between the radial arms I3, and has a connecting rod It indirectly freely mounted thereon. The outer end IEB of the connecting rod is pivotally mounted on the bottom section Ib of the piston III. When the crankshaft I2 is rotated the connecting rod I5 will move in and out of the cylinder I I causing the piston Ill to reciprocate therewith.

The means for urging the piston sections lili'- and Illb together consists of lugs It mounted on the underside of the piston section lill. A pin I'l engages through an opening It in each lug I6 and through passages in the cylinder section Ib, and threadedly engages into the piston section IIIEL where it is firmly anchored. The end of each pin I'I is provided with a head I'I, and an expansion spring I9 is coaxially mounted upon each pin II and operates between the head I 'IEl and the lug I6 to urge the top section IIla toward the bottom section I0".

A cam 2U is iixedly mounted on the rung I4 and there are plates 2| on either side thereof which are rotatively mounted on the rung I4. A friction element 22 is located between each contacting face of the cam 20 and the plates 2| to keep these two elements in frictional engagement. The connecting rod I5 is provided with a forked end I5b which engages over the cam 2l) and the plates 2|, and is pivotally connected to the plates 2| by means of pins 23. Thus when the crankshaft I2 is turned the rung I4 will relatively turn in the spaced arms I3, and the cam 2li which is fixed to the rung I4 will continuously remain in a normal position relative to the plates 2I. The friction element 22 will engage the plates 2I and hold them in iixed relation with the cam 20 and with the aid of the forked portions I 5b of the connecting rod Il, will prevent these plates from rotating as thecrank I2 and arms Il are rotated.

A stem 2l is slidably mounted within the connecting rod I5 and is formed with an inner rounded end 25* which engages the cam 2li. The outer end 25 of the stem 25 is provided with a rocker element 2l which engages a complementary curved portion 21 on the bottom of the top section I9* to permit the rocker element 29 to assume different positions with relation to the crank I2. 'Ihis is necessary because the connecting rod I5 is pivotally anchored to the bottom section III* and the slidable stem will move therewith making it necessary for the end 25" to swing in an arc as the crank I2 reciprocates the piston III. To permit this end 2lb to move in the arc, the rocker element 29 is provided, which engages the complementary curved portion 21.

The cam 29 has several cavities, but only a lower cavity 2li". and raised cavity 294 is used. When the end 25* of the stem 25 is engaging a lower cavity 20", the piston sections associated therewith will be urged as closely together as they possibly can, but on the other.

hand when the end 2l* engages a raised cavity 2l*i the stem 25 will be slid forward, within the connecting rod I5, forcing the outer section I9'l away from the inner section Il.

A means is associated with the device for changing the relative positions of the piston sections III* and I0". 'I'his means includes segmental friction members with cam outlines 28 and 29 which are flxedly mounted upon shafts 29 within enlarged portions II* of the casing of the cylinders II. A means is provided for changing the relative position of the cam 2l with relation to the plates 2| o move the stem 25 forward within the conne ng rod I5 to separate the sec.. tions III* and I0". This means includes cam elements 39 and III' which are iixedly mounted on an extended end I0 of the rung I4. Each shaft 29 extends from the cylinder II so that it may be adjusted to change the position of the elements I0 and III'.

The shafts 29 are synchronized. There are sprockets 29* mounted on the outer ends of the shafts and connected with a chain 29h. One of -the shafts 29 is provided with a drive pulley 29 which is manually moved into its desired position. I'he arrangement is such that the friction members 28 may be operated as desired. They may be set in different phases or in the same phases, as desired.

The cam 29 is provided with projecting pins 20 and 20 (see particularly Fig. 1). These pins are adapted to limit turning of the cam 29 into two main positions. These pins are adapted to strike against the connecting rod Il when they reach their positions. `When the pin 20e strikes against the connecting rod I5 the cam 20 is in a position in which the end 25* of the stem 25 is in the low portion 20 of the cam. This is the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

T'he second position of the cam 2li is one in which the cam turns anti-clockwise to a position in which the pin 2lit strikes against the connecting rod I5 and then the cam 20 will be in a position in which the end 25 of the stem 25 is in the raised cavity 294, as shown in Fig. 5. The two positions of the cam 29 are obtained as follows: When the segmental cam friction member 2l at the right in Fig. 1 is turned through 180 to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines, then as the crankshaft I2 turns clockwise, the cam element 39 will strike the cam friction member anar/,sei

2l. and means cause the rung I4 to turn clockwise to the position in which the pin 2l will strike the connecting rod I5. After this position il. reached -the friction member 29 and the cam element I0, merely idle past each other. The cam 20 may be turned back to its original' position by turning the cam friction member 2l back to its original position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and turning the friction member 28 to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines. Then as the crankshaft I2 rotates clockwise the element 2li will strike against the cam friction element 29 and causes the rung I4 to rotate anticlockwise, and thus turn the cam 20 back to its original position.

When the elements 20 and lll are adjusted. they cause the rung Il to turn within the arms Il to move the cam 2t against the holding effects of the frictional elements 22. As the cam 2l is adjusted, the end 25* of the shaft 25 will pass out of the lower cavity 2lib and into the raised cavity 20. When the end 25* is within the raised cavity 20d it will hold the top section I9* separated from the bottom section Ill as indicated by the dot and dash lines III' in Fig; 1. The shifting of these elements I9'L and I9h changes the compression space in the engine cylinder and thus the horse power and the fuel consumption characteristics of this engine.

The spaced radial arms Il are formed with notched portions Il* on their inner faces which permit these arms to pass over the forked portions I5b of the connecting rod I5 as the crank shaft I2 rotates. Washer elements 99 are provided between the contacting faces of the plates 2l and the spaced arms I2, to keep them spaced from each other so that the arms I3 will not tend to rotate the discs 2l, as the arms Il are moved on the rung Il.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Asthe crankshaft I2 rotates, the outer end of the spaced arms I3 will move in an orbit A. (see Fig. 1), about the pivotal trunnion point of the crankshaft I2. As the rung I4 moves in this orbit, the cam 20 and the plate 2I will move therewith, by the piston I0 as it reciprocates within the cylinder I I.

When it is desired to change the relative positions of the sections I0 and Ib of the piston it is merely necessary to rotate the cam friction members 29 or 28 through 180, so that their friction cam surfaces will engage the cam 20 or 20' during certain positions of the crankshaft I2, turning the rung Il, which in turn turns the cam 2l, causing the end 25'L of the shaft 25 to pass out of the lower cavity 25b and into the raised cavity 20d, or vice versa, to shift the stem 25 forward or rearwards. As the stem 25 slides forward it presses against the rocker element 28, which in turn presses against the top section I9* forcing this section away from the lower section IIIh against the holding action of the springs I 9. The clearance and the capacity of the combustion chamber are thus reduced, and the compression increased. I

When it is desired to move the sections III'L and IIib towards each other, it is merely necessary to turn the cam 20 back to its normal position to permit the end 25'l of the stem 25 to engage the lower cavity 2lib on the cam 20, permitting the springs I9 to draw the top section I0'L towards the lower section I9".

It is to be understood that instead of the chain drive 29h, the two shafts 29 may be synchronized in any other suitable manner.

amasar f `While I have illustrated and described the preferred ``'embodin'ients of -my invention; it is 'to be understood that I dcr/not limit myself tothe precise constructions herein disclosed, and the'right is reserved to all changes and modifications comingwithin the scopeof the invention as defined. in the appended claims." s

i Having' thus described my invention, what I claixnas new,` and' desire to secure by United States Letters Patent. is:

`1. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an adjustable piston slidably mounted in a cylinderhead and comprising a top piston section and a bottom section, means for urging said piston sections together, a crankshaft, a crank on saidV crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally connected to said rung, a cam fixedly mounted on saidrung, a stem slidably mounted` on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section and having its inner end abutting said cam, means for adjusting said cam relative to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position of said piston sections.

2. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an adjustable piston slidably mounted in a cylinder head and comprising a top piston section and a bottom section. means for urging said piston sections together, a crankshaft. a crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms. a connecting rod pivotally connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally connected to said rung` a cam flxedly mounted on said rung, a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section, and having its inner end abutting said cam. means for adjusting said cam relative to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position of said piston sections, said means for urging said piston sections together comprising a lug xediy mounted on the bottom section and having an aperture therethrough, a pin engaged through said aperture and having one of its ends anchored in said top section, and a spring coaxially mounted on said pin and operating be.- tween said lug and a headed portion of said pin, for urging said top section toward said bottom section.

3. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an adjustable piston slidably mounted in a cylinder head and comprising a top piston section and a bottom section, means for urging said piston sections together. a crankshaft. a crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally connected to said rung. a cam xedly mounted on said rung, a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section. and having its inner end abutting said cam, means for adjusting said cam relative "to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said, cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position oi' said piston sections, said pivotal connection between said rung and said connecting rod comprising plates rotatively mounted on said rung on both sides of said cam, and-a forked end en- Eagin'g over said cam and said plates, andpivotally connected to said plates. s

4. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an adjustable piston slidablyvmounted in a cylinder head and comprising a top piston section anda bottom section, means for urging said piston sections together, -a crankshaft, a crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial armsand a rung rotative between said arms', a connecting rod pivotally connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally connected to said rung. a cam flxedly mounted on said rung, a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section, and having its inner end abutting said cam, means for adjusting said cam relative to said stern whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position of said piston sections, said pivotal connection between said rung and said connecting rod comprising plates rotatively mounted on said rung on both side of said cam, and a forked end engaging over said cam and said plates, and pivotally connected to said plates, frictional elements between the contacting faces of said plates and said cam to hold said plates and said cam in a fixed position with each other.

5. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an adjustable piston slidably mounted in a cylinder head and comprising a top piston section and a bottom section, means for urging said piston sections together, a crankshaft, a crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms, a connecting rod pivotally oo nnected to said bottom rung, a cam xedly mounted on said rung, a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section, and having its inner end abutting said cam, means for adjusting said cam relative to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position of said piston sections, said means for adjusting said cam comprising a shaft rotatively mounted in an enlarged portion of said cylinder head, a friction member on said shaft, and a cam on an extended end of said rung, and adapted to be engaged by said friction member when it is rotated through 180.

6. In an internal combustion engine the combination of an adjustable piston slidably mounted in a cylinder head and comprising a top piston section and ay bottom section, means for urging said piston sections together, a crankshaft, a crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally connected to said rung, a cam xedly mounted on said rung, a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section, and having its inner end abutting said cam, means for adjusting said cam relative to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position of said piston sections, said cam being provided with a lower cavity adapted to be engaged by said stem for permitting said first mentioned means to draw said top section towards said bottom section.

`piston section and pivotally connected to saidv 7. In an internal combustion engine the combination o! an adjustable piston slidably mounted in a cylinder head and'comprising a top piston section and a bottom section, means i'or urging said piston sections together, a crankshaft, a crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms, a connecting rod pivotaliy connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally Aconnected to said rung, a cam nxedly mounted on said rung. a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by `engaging said top piston section, and having its inner end abutting said cam, means ior adjusting said cam relative to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position of said piston sections, said cam being provided with a lower cavity adapted to be engaged by said stem for permitting said first mentioned means to draw said top section towards said bottom section, said cam being provided with a raised cavity adapted to be engaged by the inner end of said stem to move it forward within said connecting rod to urge said top piston section away from said bottom piston section against the y said piston sections` together, a crankshaft, a

crank on said crankshaft having spaced radial arms and a rung rotative between said arms, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said bottom piston section and pivotally connected to said rung, a cam nxedly mounted on said rung, a stem slidably mounted on said connecting rod and connected to said piston by engaging said top piston section, and having its inner end abutting said cam, means for adjusting said cam relative to said stem whereby said crank may be rotated to reciprocate said piston, and said cam adjusted to move said stem to change the relative position oi' said piston sections, said cam being provided with rollers on the portions which abut the inner end of said stem to decrease wear and tear between these elements.

JOHN HLAsNEY, Jn. 

